Hirakura Jun knelt on the cold, damp stone floor, carefully cushioning Kawamatsu's heavy head with his sleeve. The accompanying doctor pried open Kawamatsu's clenched teeth and slowly poured a bowl of warm sugar water into his cracked lips.
The sugar flowed down his throat with the water, stimulating his nearly stalled metabolism. Kawamatsu's chest heaved violently once, then he gave a muffled cough and slowly opened his eyes. Those eyes, which should have been as sharp as blades, were now bloodshot and filled with involuntary tears. His blurred gaze focused on the face before him, a face steeped in flattery and fear.
Memories surged back like a tide-the news of Kurozumi Orochi's death, the theft of Oden's name, and... the heart-wrenching news of Princess Hiyori's marriage.
Without a moment's hesitation, almost the instant he regained consciousness, Kawamatsu thrust out his huge hand, seized Hirakura Jun by the collar, and lifted him clean off his feet. His weakness remained, but the anguish and resolve rising from deep within his soul gave him terrifying strength.
"Take... take me to the Flower Capital!" His voice rasped like sandpaper, yet carried an unquestionable command. "Now! Immediately!"
Inside the surveillance room, Queen watched it all through a Visual Den Den Mushi. He tapped his thick cigar and curled his lips into an interested grin. "Oh~ Looks like our big 'Red Scabbard' fish is awake. Quite a temper, too." He instructed the Headliner standing by beside him, "Go prepare the fastest pteranodon. Deliver Lord Kawamatsu to Young Master Yamato, 'safely' and 'with dignity.'" He blew a smoke ring, calculation gleaming in his eyes. "Let the boss see whether the young master has what it takes to bring these stubborn Kozuki Family loyalists to heel."
The enormous pteranodon spread its membranous wings, tore through the clouds, and